Lu Shiyuan's Warning

After a year, Zhu Zhuqing had come to understand Dai Mubai's character.

To be honest, she had already completely lost faith in this so-called fiancé of hers.

Unlike Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun, who supported each other, this engaged pair were more like strangers who had merely crossed paths. They lived their own separate lives and did not even see each other once a year.

The last time she had seen Dai Mubai was at the imperial palace's engagement banquet on the day her Martial Soul awakened successfully.

Being assigned as the fiancée of someone she had never even met—how could Zhu Zhuqing possibly feel good about that?

She was a living, breathing person, not a tool for imperial power struggles.

Unfortunately, on this continent, those without strength could only submit to fate's manipulation.

To truly take control of one's fate, one needed sufficient strength.

For a moment, Lu Shiyuan could not help but look at Zhu Zhuqing with a trace of pity.

He gently patted Zhu Zhuqing's shoulder, and the skittish little cat nearly jumped out of her skin.

Zhu Zhuqing shot Lu Shiyuan a puzzled glance, as though saying that he had better have a reason.

Lu Shiyuan chuckled. "Do you want to leave?"

Zhu Zhuqing froze, unsure what he meant.

"Leave the Zhu Family, leave Star Luo City, leave the fate others have arranged for you." Lu Shiyuan continued, "If you want to leave all that behind, I can help you."

Before Zhu Zhuqing could speak, the guard who had spoken first sneered. "Kid, aren't you afraid of biting your tongue with such big talk? Do you know who we are?"

Lu Shiyuan replied very seriously, "Star Luo Empire, the Zhu Family, right?"

"Since you know that, you still dare say something like that? You must be tired of living!"

Lu Shiyuan shook his head. "Have you considered why I would still dare say that when I know you're from the Zhu Family?"

To cooperate with Lu Shiyuan, Yun Qingluo released her Martial Soul without hesitation just as he finished speaking.

She might only be a healing-type Soul Master, but the pressure belonging to a Titled Douluo was not diminished in the slightest.

Her Soul Power Level was right there for all to see.

Fortunately, this was merely a secluded alley. Combined with the guards' sudden appearance, the nearby pedestrians had long since fled in fright.

That was precisely why Yun Qingluo could release her Martial Soul without restraint.

Besides, Lu Shiyuan merely hated trouble; he was not afraid of making it.

If they truly provoked him, at worst he could rely on Xiao Feiyu to fight their way out of the Star Luo Empire.

With Xiao Feiyu's abilities, taking Lu Shiyuan and the others out would be effortless. She could even find time along the way to slaughter the entire imperial palace.

The guards were so frightened that they could not speak. The nine Soul Rings floating neatly before them made Yun Qingluo's identity crystal clear.

"A... a Titled Douluo!" The guard's voice twisted, and his shrill cry sent the other guards staggering several steps back in unison.

Zhu Zhuqing was stunned as well. She had seen the guards' reactions.

This was what she had always pursued.

Strength—absolute strength!

The strength to protect herself, the strength to make everyone shut up.

The strength to... help her break free from fate's shackles.

Lu Shiyuan was quite satisfied with what had happened. He extended a hand to Zhu Zhuqing. "Well? Do you want to leave?"

Yun Qingluo pressed her lips together in a soft laugh. Sure enough, it was developing just like in their previous life.

Zhu Zhuqing instinctively reached out and placed her boneless little hand in Lu Shiyuan's palm.

The warm touch made her heart race wildly. Just as she was about to nod, she heard a guard's sinister voice from behind her.

"Second Miss, please reconsider. If you leave, perhaps there will be nothing we can do, but the entire Zhu Family will be plunged into the abyss because of your decision!"

A second daughter of the Zhu Family fleeing an arranged marriage would cause the Star Luo Empire's imperial family to lose all face.

They could do nothing to a Titled Douluo, but dealing with the Zhu Family would be easy enough.

This world was just that fucked up. Dai Mubai could flee the marriage because the Star Luo Emperor could not possibly execute Dai Mubai's entire clan—unless Dai Mubai drew his sword and slit his own throat on the spot.

But if the Zhu Family did the same, the enraged Star Luo Emperor might not wipe them out, but the current Spirit Cat Duke would not get off lightly.

House arrest would already be the best possible outcome.

Zhu Zhuqing's hand suddenly tightened, then swiftly pulled away just as Lu Shiyuan's fingers were about to close around it.

Lu Shiyuan sighed softly. He already knew Zhu Zhuqing's choice.

That made sense. Although Zhu Zhuqing was disappointed in the Zhu Family and disappointed in Dai Mubai at this point, she had yet to experience the most fatal betrayal.

When Dai Mubai fled the Star Luo Empire two years later, the little cat would probably give up completely.

Over the next three years, she would cultivate desperately and work hard to accumulate strength, all to escape this suffocating place.

With that thought, he patted Zhu Zhuqing's thin shoulder again. Meeting those eyes filled with confusion, he smiled at the guards and said, "From today onward, if I learn that your Zhu Family has treated her harshly again, don't blame me for taking action."

The leading guard opened his mouth, as though he wanted to say something.

But Lu Shiyuan continued, "Think carefully before answering. Not everyone can bear the cost of angering a Titled Douluo. Perhaps those important figures can rest easy, but how many lives do executors like you have to bear the consequences? Or do you think those important figures would fall out with a Titled Douluo over the likes of you?"

Everyone fell silent. They might have been arrogant just moments ago, but none of them were stupid enough to think the emperor would stand up for insignificant guards like them.

Seeing their reaction, Lu Shiyuan sneered twice. "It seems I'll have to pay the Zhu Family a special visit this afternoon. When you return, remember to tell your family head not to run around today. Otherwise, I'll be very angry."

After saying that, he patted Zhu Zhuqing's shoulder one last time and left the alley with Yun Qingluo.

After the two had left, the guards' expressions changed repeatedly before they finally deflated like punctured balloons. The leading guard bowed, his attitude becoming far more respectful. "Second Miss, please return with us."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded woodenly, but there was now a little more hope in her eyes.

That afternoon, Lu Shiyuan took Xiao Feiyu to the Zhu Family.

When it came to fighting, a Battle Soul Master still had to take the field.

After Xiao Feiyu displayed her Soul Rings, the current Spirit Cat Duke was already scared out of his wits.

He repeatedly promised that he would strictly restrain everyone in the residence from then on and never allow Zhu Zhuqing to suffer even the slightest grievance.

Only after hearing that promise did Lu Shiyuan leave the Zhu Family in satisfaction. Before departing, he met Zhu Zhuqing once more and relayed the Spirit Cat Duke's promise.

After hearing him out, Zhu Zhuqing could not help asking, "Why are you helping me?"

Lu Shiyuan shrugged. "Not everything in this world needs to be traced back to its roots and given a reason. If I have to say something, then let's call it fate."

"Fate?" Zhu Zhuqing's face was full of disbelief. She had never placed any hope in her own luck.

If she were truly a lucky person, why would she have been born into the Zhu Family? Why would she have entered into an engagement with Dai Mubai?

Meanwhile, the Spirit Cat Duke had already collapsed limply into his chair.

Because the guard who had appeared in the alley during the day told him that the Titled Douluo accompanying Lu Shiyuan at the time was not the one who had come that afternoon.

In other words, there were at least two Titled Douluo by Lu Shiyuan's side.

Two Titled Douluo! That was enough to hang up the entire Zhu Family and kill them three times over!